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Re: My Ant Proof Hive Stand Actually Works!

I checked the prices at Lowes yesterday to build this stand. Using black pipe it cost $53.00 and using galvanized pipe cost approx. $62.00. Would PVC be just as strong? I know it would be a lot cheaper. I,m very fugal..;o) Thanks

Re: My Ant Proof Hive Stand Actually Works!

I built two of them and with 3 full double deeps it does rock slightly so I do not think you will get enough strength, especially on the cross pieces. 3 hives with double deeps and 3 med. supers would be pushing 800-1000 lbs (~70 per deep and 50 per super). I would not recommend this.

Re: My Ant Proof Hive Stand Actually Works!

Thanks to everyone that contributed to this thread. Getting my first bees this spring and now I know how to build my stands and be ant proof from the get-go! This has saved me a ton of research. Thanks!

Re: My Ant Proof Hive Stand Actually Works!

Okay Charlie, I made 4 dowel rod stands. Now I am looking for the grease. Will any grease due? It looks like the grease is white in your pics. You said, hi temp grease? What did you use and where did you get it, please?

Re: My Ant Proof Hive Stand Actually Works!

Here ya go GM, Master Pro high temp disc brake and bearing grease. It keeps it's consistency in hot or cold weather. I like to rest the hives over my grease cups to protect them from excessive temperatures and rain.

Re: My Ant Proof Hive Stand Actually Works!

The most vicious ants we have are small fire ants, they'll eat bees, larva and beekeepers too. I poisoned em with Amdro antblock, but under pondliner on hive area perimeter to keep bees out of it. Worked.

5 hives. The bee tree bunch were too hot, moved them to a 10-frame at the back of the lot, and I finally caught and killed the queen (cordovan colored) about august, I took out all the queen cells and replaced with vsh eggs and larva, decided they'd failed at queen making, bought them an italian queen, who I found on the front step a week later when their queen from a hidden cell hatched and threw her out. She didn't live long. In other words, I got a LOT of experience.

2 VSH hives from nucs, 1 VSH hive from the queen I bought for the hot hive when I couldn't find their queen, 1 VSH hive from the hot hive's requeen (my weakest right now) and 1 cutout hive that I never requeened because they have done quite well. I know where there are 2 cutouts sitting, have rebaited the empty beetree. Will put out some more bait hives but mainly around here. The ones I had at a distance didn't do so well for whatever reason. Probably I put them out too early last year and the LGO was gone by swarm time.

Stuck in Texas. Learning Permaculture in drought, flood and strange weather. The bees are still alive.

Re: My Ant Proof Hive Stand Actually Works!

Oh Charlie, it's going to be dry, but thanks for your good wishes.

But with 5 hives and as much planting as I'm doing for them, I stand a chance at a small honey harvest. All entrances reduced. And I feed inside the hive now, no more Boardman Feeders. Half a bottle of HBH left over from 2011 - is it good for anything?

Stuck in Texas. Learning Permaculture in drought, flood and strange weather. The bees are still alive.

Re: My Ant Proof Hive Stand Actually Works!

Charlie
I built two of the modified stands so far. 4 feet between the wooden dowl rods were too far for heavy hives. The 1x4 sagged in the middle. The next one's I build I will place them 3 foot apart and use 2x4's for the top plate. I have high hopes for these stands as I will have more nucs and hives to put on them. I battled ants all last summer. Big one's, little ones, and some in between.. The cost ended up beeing about $55.00 each for 8 footers.

Re: My Ant Proof Hive Stand Actually Works!

Charlie - We have the same problem here in Angels Camp - Is the grease what prevents the ants from moving upward? Did you just sink the pipes into the ground or are the anchored by cement or something....I'm concerned about pivoting and the nature of the soil; in this area, is red clay with rocks everywhere - We are running 8 frame supers -

Re: My Ant Proof Hive Stand Actually Works!

Holiday,

I pounded mine two feet in but the soil is very stable with no rocks. It's better to anchor them in concrete though. If you have a rocky surface, you'll have a hard time pounding the pipe in straight so it's better to just dig holes and concrete in.

Yes, the grease is what keeps the ants from climbing up into the hives.